Longan

Common Name

Longan

Kingdom

Plantae

Order

Sapindales

Family

Sapindaceae

Genus

Dimocarpus

Species

longan

Native

Southern China and Burma

Characteristics

"Round fruits with a thin, brown-colored inedible shell. The flesh of the fruit is translucent white, soft, and juicy. It surrounds a big, black seed. That’s why it is called ""Dragon’s Eye.""

Distribution

Southern China to several South East Asian countries, Srilanka and South India, Australia, Brazil and United States.

Climate and weather

Longan is a subtropical tree but it grows well in the tropics. It needs a prominent change of seasons for satisfactory flowering. A cool season of 2-3 months results in abundant flowering.

Duration

7-8 years to come into bearing

Insect pests

The most important pest is the Longan stink bug: Tessaratoma javanica. Other pests include: Erinose mite, scales, fruit flies, aphids, stem borers, leaf eating caterpillars, flower eating caterpillars, mealy bug, fruit spotting bug, elephant beetles and fruit piercing moth

Diseases

Relatively free of diseases. Main disease is Rosette shoot or Witches’ broom

Harvesting

Uses

eaten fresh, fruit is improved by cooking, canned in sirup or dried and A liqueur is made by macerating the longan flesh in alcohol

Symptoms